AMERICAN AIRLINES UPDATE

Mohave County Airport Authority President John Hastings said 5,080 passengers flew American Airlines during its first three months of service from the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport to Phoenix. He said the numbers vary from day to day but that the airline averaged about 50% occupancy during its first quarter of service.

Hastings told Bullhead City Council members June 6 that occupancy is projected at 41% for the second quarter of operation, but that occupancy will need to be about 73% to sustain the service long term.

Hastings said funding contributions from the private sector guarantee extended operation of the airline at the local airport, the only regularly scheduled local flight service in all of Mohave County. He said if current load factors are maintained and unimproved, there’s still enough capital to fund continued operation of the service through October, 2018.

Hastings told council members that about $300,000 was spent on promotion during the first quarter of American Airlines’ local service. He said marketing strategies are being sharpened to achieve greater awareness and use of the service.